$150,000 Settlement for Limited Tort Plaintiff

A young woman was side-swiped by a tanker truck and seriously injured her back. The lawsuit was filed in New Jersey state court in Camden County. This was a disputed liability case in which the defendant truck driver claimed the plaintiff tried to improperly pass him on the left side. The young woman’s vehicle sustained Read Full Case Summary

$150,000 Settlement for Limited Tort Plaintiff

A young woman was side-swiped by a tanker truck and seriously injured her back. The lawsuit was filed in New Jersey state court in Camden County. This was a disputed liability case in which the defendant truck driver claimed the plaintiff tried to improperly pass him on the left side. The young woman’s vehicle sustained Read Full Case Summary

$150,000 Settlement for Limited Tort Plaintiff

A young woman was side-swiped by a tanker truck and seriously injured her back. The lawsuit was filed in New Jersey state court in Camden County. This was a disputed liability case in which the defendant truck driver claimed the plaintiff tried to improperly pass him on the left side. The young woman’s vehicle sustained Read Full Case Summary

Marc I. Simon, Esquire, Marc I. Simon, Esquire, concentrates his practice in personal injury litigation. He opened Simon & Simon at the beginning of 2010 and serves as its CEO and full owner. He previously served on the hiring committee at Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel. He is also on the board of governors for the Pennsylvania Association for Justice and is a member of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association. Mr. Simon was named “40 under 40” by the Legal Intelligencer.

Prior to forming Simon & Simon, P.C., Mr. Simon was a commercial litigator at two large Philadelphia law firms where he represented businesses and individuals, in injury, environmental, contractual, construction, and real estate matters. Additionally, Mr. Simon is an NBA-certified agent and was a Division I college basketball player for Columbia University in New York City.

Mr. Simon is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and New Jersey bar and licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

A native of Abington, Pennsylvania, Mr. Simon attended Shipley High School in Bryn Mawr, PA and then earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University, in New York City. He then obtained his law degree from Villanova University, graduating Magna Cum Laude and received the prestigious Order of the Coif Award bestowed on members of the graduating class who obtain a grade point average in the top ten percent of the entire class.

Mr. Rosen earned his Juris Doctorate from the Rutgers University School of Law in Camden, New Jersey. During law school, Mr. Rosen worked as a law clerk under Managing Partner, Marc Simon, until his graduation from Rutgers in 2010.

Prior to joining Simon & Simon, P.C., Mr. Rosen was a law clerk at a large Philadelphia law firm where he worked under licensed attorneys on personal injury, contractual, construction, and real estate matters. Additionally, until 2007, Mr. Rosen was a campaign administrator and constituent liaison for U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisconsin), in Madison, Wisconsin.

Mr. Rosen is a lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area. He graduated from Lower Merion School District�s Harriton High School in Rosemont in 2002. In 2006, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin, in Madison, concentrating in Political Science. During his undergraduate program, Mr. Rosen also studied international sociology and language courses at the Universitat de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain.

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania

Education

Rutgers University School of Law

Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Wisconsin

Matthew J Zamites, Esquire, has been a member of the Pennsylvania Bar since 1998 and brings over 12 years of litigation experience to Simon & Simon,PC. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Zamites served as a senior litigation association in a major regional insurance defense law firm, and has conducted many successful jury trials. In addition, he is a certified Arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. His areas of practice include motor vehicle accidents, premises liability (slip-and-fall cases), commercial vehicle accidents, rental car liability, and insurance bad faith.

A lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, he attended Monsignor Bonner High School in Drexel Hill and achieved a Bachelor of Science Degree from Ursinus College in 1988. He obtained his law degree from Widener University in 1997, graduating cum laude. . He is licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

While attending the Villanova University Law School, Mr. Van Wagner was a member of the Villanova Environmental Law Journal serving as both a staff writer and as the Managing Editor of Student Works. As a staff writer, his article A Look at a Melting Arctic and the Hot Competition for its Resources was chosen for publication. In February 2013, he gave a lecture on his article at the Michigan State University College of Law. Mr. Van Wagner also interned with the Honorable Ann G. McCormick of the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey where he assisted the bench in all aspects of complex civil litigation.

Mr. Van Wagner is a native of California. In 2006, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Davis.

Bar Admissions

New Jersey Pennsylvania

Education

Villanova University School of Law, 2010

University of California, Davis, 2006

Michael J. Soska, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C., where he concentrates his practice on personal injury litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Soska served as Vice President and General Counsel for a company in Bucks County, and worked as a litigation associate at a major regional insurance defense firm. He has significant litigation experience, including jury trials, in the areas of personal injury, commercial trucking accidents, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and consumer fraud.

Mr. Soska graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Norwich University in 1996. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Temple University James Beasley School of Law in 2007. Before practicing law, Mr. Soska served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army in the United States and abroad. He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Bar Admissions

New Jersey Pennsylvania

Education

J.D., Temple University, Beasley School of Law

Bachelor of Arts degree from Norwich University

Andrew Baron, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C., where he concentrates his practice on personal injury litigation. Mr. Baron represents injured victims in car accidents, fall downs, wrongful death claims and medical malpractice law suits. Mr. Baron is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining Simon & Simon, P.C., Mr. Baron was an attorney for a well-respected multi-county medical malpractice defense firm, where he vigorously defended the interests of physicians, nurses, hospitals, and other medical professionals. Additionally, Mr. Baron has done extensive pro bono work with Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania.

While attending the Widener University School of Law,173 Mr. Baron was a member of the Widener Health Society. During his time there, Mr. Baron also interned with the Widener Law Veterans Clinic, where he conducted research and provided case evaluations for veterans previously denied benefits by the Veteran's Affairs Regional Office. In addition to earning his Juris Doctor degree, upon graduation, Mr. Baron was also presented with a Health Law Certificate, with Honors.

Mr. Baron is a native of New York. In 2007, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Binghamton University, concentrating in History. During his undergraduate years, Mr. Baron served as the Chairman of the Binghamton University Programming Board where he negotiated performance contracts with premier recording artists and coordinated university-wide programs.

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania

Education

J.D., Widener University School of Law, 2010

B.A, Binghamton University, 2007

Brian F. George, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C., where he concentrates his practice on personal injury litigation. Mr. George brings over twelve years of litigation experience to the firm. Prior to joining Simon & Simon, PC, he was a senior associate at an insurance defense firm in Philadelphia where he focused exclusively on litigation, including car accident, products liability, premises liability, military defense and commercial litigation matters, and tried many cases successfully to verdict.

Mr. George served as a Judge Advocate (JAG) in the United States Air Force where he prosecuted and defended military members accused of crimes and practiced law in a variety of areas, including the defense of personal injury claims against the government. He is certified as an Arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Mr. George's practice areas include car accidents, fall downs, wrongful death, products liability, and medical malpractice claims.

Mr. George is a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania where he also attended King's College, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree with majors in accounting and economics. He later earned his Juris Doctorate at Temple University Beasley School of Law where he participated in the nationally-ranked Integrated Trial Advocacy Program and interned for the Honorable John R. Padova, United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

Bar Admissions

Education

Raymond Tarnowski, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C., where he represents injured victims in car accidents, fall downs, wrongful death claims and medical malpractice suits. Mr. Tarnowski is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining Simon & Simon, Mr. Tarnowski practiced at a general litigation firm where he managed several areas of the firm and won major victories at trial.

While attending Villanova University Law School, Mr. Tarnowski was a member of the Sports and Entertainment Law Journal. Mr. Tarnowski interned in the Chester County District Attorney's Office and for the Honorable Thomas J. Rueter and the Honorable Judith H. Wizmur in Federal Court.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Tarnowski graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and then worked in Washington, D.C. as a lobbyist. Mr. Tarnowski was born and raised in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Bar Admissions

Education

Michael Simon, Esquire, has tried many jury trials and prosecuted numerous appeals since he commenced his legal career in 1971.

Initially he was a commercial litigator with Berger & Montague, representing plaintiffs in securities and antitrust class actions. From 1978-2006, Mr. Simon practiced on his own as a litigator, concentrating on plaintiffs’ motor vehicle, premises liability, products liability and medical negligence actions. He obtained a $3,300,000 settlement in a tire defect case, a $1,500,000 settlement in a tractor-trailer accident case and six figure jury verdicts. He served as a Judge Pro Temp and arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

Mr. Simon is a lifelong Philadelphia resident. He graduated from Tufts University magna cum laude and received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania law school. Following law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable C. William Kraft in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Mr.. Simon is active in the community, serving on the Board of Directors of Golden Slipper Club & Charities and having been honored by Jewish Adoption Foster Care Option (Jafco)

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania

Education

J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School

Tufts University, Magna Cum Laude

Alisha Nichols, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, PC, where she focuses her practice on
personal injury litigation. Ms. Nichols represents victims in all manners of injuries including
motor vehicle accidents, falls downs, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims. Ms.
Nichols is admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and The State of New Jersey

Ms. Nichols joined Simon & Simon, PC as a summer associate, while in law school at Temple
University Beasley School of Law. Ms. Nichols previously clerked for the Honorable Sandra
Mazer Moss in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

Prior to attending law school, Ms. Nichols graduated from Rutgers University, where she was a
member of Phi Beta Kappa. After college, Ms. Nichols worked at a political consulting firm in
New Jersey. Ms. Nichols was born and raised in the Philadelphia area.

Mr. Arner is a lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area. In 1995, Mr. Arner earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the West Chester University, concentrating in Health and Physical Education. Thereafter, Mr. Arner earned his Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law. Mr. Arner is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

Bar Admissions

PennsylvaniaNew YorkNew Jersey

Education

J.D., Widener University School of Law

B.S., West Chester University

Alex Hyder, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C., where he focuses his practice on personal injury litigation. Mr. Hyder represents victims in all manners of injuries, including motor vehicle accidents, fall downs, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims. He joined Simon & Simon, P.C. after practicing at a boutique civil litigation firm in Philadelphia. He previously held internships at plaintiff and defense firms, as well as the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

A lifelong native of the Philadelphia area, Mr. Hyder attended Penn State University, where he studied Political Science and Pre-Law and was a member of the National Political Science Honors Society. Mr. Hyder then attended Duquesne University School of Law, where he was the recipient of numerous awards and accolades. During law school, Mr. Hyder served on the executive board for the Duquesne Business Law Journal and was a member of the school’s Trial Moot Court team. Mr. Hyder focused much of his research in the area of class action litigation and had his works published in a national peer-reviewed business journal.

Bar Admissions

New Jersey Pennsylvania

Education

J.D., Duquesne University School of Law

Penn State University

Joseph L. Coleman, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C., where he concentrates his practice on personal injury litigation. Mr. Coleman is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Prior to joining Simon & Simon, P.C., Mr. Coleman practiced criminal defense at one of the largest and most reputable firms in Philadelphia where he represented hundreds of clients in motions, bench trials, and jury trials.

Mr. Coleman attended Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, where he studied in the prestigious Trial Advocacy program and earned multiple honors including Outstanding Oral Advocate. He also earned the Integrated Transactional Program Award in recognition of his negotiating skills. Mr. Coleman was a member and editor of the International & Comparative Law Journal and graduated cum laude.

Mr. Coleman is originally from Ventura, California where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Film & Video Production.

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania

Education

J.D., Temple University Beasley School of Law

B.A., Brooks Institute

Michael Schlagnhaufer, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C. where he concentrates his practice on personal injury litigation. Mr. Schlagnhaufer represents injured victims in car accidents, fall downs, wrongful death claims and medical malpractice law suits. Mr. Schlagnhaufer is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Prior to joining Simon & Simon, Mr. Schlagnhaufer worked in a boutique Pennsylvania law firm specializing in liquor licensing and municipal litigation. Aside from Pennsylvania liquor licensing his focus was on large scale national acquisitions of restaurant and hotel chains as well as coordinating counsel for firms in as many as 30-plus states at any given time.

Mr. Schlagnhaufer earned his Juris Doctorate from the Temple University School of Law. While attending Temple, he participated in the Trial Advocacy Program, Philadelphia Orphan’s Court Program and the Philadelphia District Attorney clinical program. During this time, Mr. Schlagnhaufer attended law school at night while working full-time during the day for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Mr. Schlagnhaufer is native of Philadelphia. After high school, he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration, Magna Cum Laude, at La Salle University.

Bar Admissions

New Jersey Pennsylvania

Education

J.D., Temple University School of Law

B.B.A., La Salle University, Magna Cum Laude

Mary G. McCarthy, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C. where she concentrates her practice on personal injury litigation. Ms. McCarthy brings over fourteen years of litigation experience to the firm.

Prior to joining Simon & Simon, PC, she was a senior associate at a well-respected boutique insurance defense firm in Philadelphia where she focused exclusively on litigation, including car accident, bad faith litigation, first party medical payments coverage, and military justice matters. Ms. McCarthy has tried many cases to verdict.

Prior to insurance defense work, Ms. McCarthy served as a Judge Advocate (JAG) in the United States Army where she served as an Administrative Law attorney, where she provided advice to the command. The majority of her time in the Army was as a Trial Defense attorney where she defended military members accused of crimes.

Ms. McCarthy is certified as an Arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, and her current practice areas include car accidents, fall downs, and bad faith litigation.

Ms. McCarthy graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Delaware with majors in Political Science and Women’s Studies. She later earned her Juris Doctorate at Widener University in 2001. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Bar Admissions

Education

Bill Rhodes, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C. where he concentrates his practice on personal injury litigation.

Bill Rhodes graduated with honors from the Beasley School of Law of Temple University. Mr. Rhodes received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Crime, Law, and Justice from Penn State University.

Prior to becoming an associate at Simon & Simon, Bill Rhodes was an attorney at a Rittenhouse law firm where he represented plaintiffs in personal injury and employment discrimination suits. Mr. Rhodes also clerked for Presiding Judge Walter Marshall in Gloucester County during Judge Marshall's final year on the bench. At the culmination of his clerkship, he received the Samuel G. DeSimone award for excellence in mediation for maintaining the highest successful mediation rate in the history of the program. Mr. Rhodes has developed his advocacy skills by working as a certified legal intern at the Gloucester County Office of the Public Defender and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office. In 2013, Bill Rhodes was among the first students to receive a certification in Trial Advocacy from Temple University.

Bar Admissions

New Jersey Pennsylvania

Education

J.D., Temple University School of Law

B.S., Penn State University

Jim Stinsman, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C., where he concentrates his practice on personal injury litigation. Mr. Stinsman is admitted to practice law in
Pennsylvania and the United States Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Prior to joining Simon & Simon, P.C., Mr. Stinsman served as an Assistant District Attorney for the
Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. As an ADA, Mr. Stinsman was the lead prosecutor in
numerous major felony jury trials. Mr. Stinsman also conducted long-term investigations into
violent criminal organizations.

Mr. Stinsman is a lifelong resident of Philadelphia. He graduated from Temple University with a
Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Political Science and Criminal Justice. He later graduated cum laude
from Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, where he served as the Executive Editor of
the Temple Law Review. At Temple Law, Mr. Stinsman was the recipient of numerous awards,
including the Julian Eule Award for the best paper in the area of constitutional law, the J. Howard
Memorial Award for excellence in editing the Temple Law Review, and the Integrated Trial Advocacy
Award for excellence in trial advocacy.

Bar Admissions

Education

J.D., Temple University, Beasley School of Law

Temple University, B.A.

Jessalyn Gillum, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C. where she concentrates her practice on personal injury litigation.

Ms. Gillum is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Simon & Simon, P.C., Ms. Gillum served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office for eight years. As an ADA, Ms. Gillum was the lead prosecutor in numerous major felony jury trials. The majority of her time at the District Attorney’s Office was spent in the Family Violence & Sexual Assault Unit, with most of her cases involving young children and other vulnerable victims.

Originally from New Jersey, Ms. Gillum graduated cum laude from Colby College in Waterville, ME with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Sociology with a minor in Business. She later graduated from Rutgers School of Law – Newark, where she received multiple scholarship awards and participated in their Child Advocacy Clinic for two years.

Bar Admissions

New Jersey Pennsylvania

Education

J.D., Rutgers University School of Law

B.A., Colby College

Joshua Baer, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C. where he concentrates his practice on personal injury litigation. Since 2001 Josh has represented over one thousand individuals, companies and organizations in all manners of state and federal casualty litigation, and he has successfully tried hundreds of cases before judges, juries and arbitration panels. He is a graduate of Temple University Law School where he participated with distinction in the school’s Integrated Trial Advocacy program. He received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Labor and Industrial Studies from Penn State University in 1993, and first worked as a Pennsylvania certified real estate appraiser before and while attending law school. A life-long resident of the Philadelphia area, he is a product of the Philadelphia and Cheltenham school districts, and is a graduate of LaSalle College High School.

Josh practiced for nearly fifteen years at a large regional defense firm as lead trial counsel in automobile and premises liability litigation; trucking; construction defect; products liability; and class action matters. He has successfully defended jury verdict wins in Pennsylvania’s appellate courts.

Josh is an active volunteer in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas where he serves as a judge pro tem in the Day Forward Major Jury and Compulsory Arbitration Appeal programs. His involvement within the Philadelphia Bar Association includes membership with its State Civil and Compulsory Arbitration Committees, the latter of which he served as co-chair for several years.

Outside of the law, Josh’s advocacy for others has been exercised through his service on the board and, later, as president of the board of the Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia; as well as having received two mayoral appointments to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority’s Citizen’s Advisory Committee.

Bar Admissions

Education

Harry Gosnear, Esquire, has been a member of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bars since 2004 and brings over twelve years of litigation experience to Simon & Simon, P.C.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Gosnear served as a trial attorney in a mid-sized regional insurance defense law firm and has conducted many successful arbitrations and jury trials. He is a certified arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. His practice areas include motor vehicle accidents, premises liability (slip and fall cases), and insurance coverage.

Mr. Gosnear was born and raised in Philadelphia and attended George Washington High School in Northeast Philadelphia. He achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree from Ursinus College in 1988. Mr. Gosnear then worked for 15 years handling personal injury claims for several major insurance companies. He attended law school at night while working and obtained his law degree from Widener University in 2004, graduating cum laude. Mr. Gosnear is licensed to practice before both state and federal courts in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Bar Admissions

Education

J.D., Widener University School of Law

B.A., Ursinus College

Ashley Oakey, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C. where she concentrates her practice on personal injury litigation.

Prior to joining Simon & Simon, Ms. Oakey practiced law at one of the largest criminal defense firms in Philadelphia, where she represented hundreds of clients throughout all stages of litigation including motions, bench trials, and jury trials. Ms. Oakey attended Widener University School of Law, where she graduated with a Certificate in Trial Advocacy. Ms. Oakey was also a member of the Moot Court Honors Society and served as Widener’s Representative in the American Bar Association, Student Division. Ms. Oakey interned at Widener’s Civil Law Clinic.

Originally from Maryland, Ms. Oakey attended college at James Madison University in Virginia, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing.

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania

Education

B.B.A., James Madison University

J.D., Widener University School of Law

Daria Koscielniak, Esquire, is an attorney at Simon & Simon, P.C. where she concentrates her practice on personal injury litigation. Ms. Koscielniak sat for the June 2016 Pennsylvania and New Jersey Bar Examinations and is waiting for her results.

Ms. Koscielniak interned at Simon & Simon, PC while studying at Temple University Beasley School of Law. During law school, Ms. Koscielniak served as a Senior Production Editor of the Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review. Her legal research was published in law review journals.

Ms. Koscielniak contributes to the community by partnering with Philadelphia VIP to provide Polish translation services.

Prior to law school, Ms. Koscielniak earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Labor and Employment Relations and a minor from the Smeal College of Business at the Pennsylvania State University.

This website provides public legal information regarding personal injury claims. None of the information on this site is intended to be formal legal advice, nor the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship. Past performance is not a guarantee or indicator of what your individual claim may be worth. Each claim is evaluated on a case by case basis